Dmitry Novikov: “The dissolution of the INF Treaty leads to a split of the territory of Europe”

04.02.2019

04.02.2019

The termination of the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (DSRMD) leads to splits in Europe, the fears of the members of the European Parliament are justified. This was stated by the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Dmitry Novikov, reports RT.

So he commented on the statement of the leader of the European Parliament faction “Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats” Udo Bulman that a possible US exit from the INF Treaty would put European security at risk.

“They are trying to declare their position. But recently we have seen that the so-called Euro-Atlantic solidarity leads to the fact that the European Union is steadily moving in the wake of the policy of the United States. So it is unlikely that he will be ready to formulate his position on Washington rather toughly, ”said Novikov.

He added that the United States took the course to terminate the treaty not today or even yesterday. In addition, Washington did everything to form an opinion that this is not the United States, but Russia is violating the provisions of the INF.

Today, the Wall Street Journal newspaper wrote that on February 1, the State Department will report that the United States is suspending its obligations on the INF Treaty and is beginning to exit from it.

In mid-January, the US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Andrea Thompson, stated that “if Russia does not return to fulfill the terms of the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Short-Range Missiles,” the US will begin withdrawing from the agreement on February 2.

Prior to this, US President Donald Trump announced on October 21 of his intention to terminate the Treaty on Medium and Small-Range Missiles.

Moscow categorically denies the accusations of Washington and is in favor of preserving the treaty. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that the United States had actually withdrawn from the treaty and did not comply with the terms of the document.

The DSRMD obliges the participants not to produce, test or deploy ballistic and cruise missiles of ground-based medium (from 1000 to 5500 kilometers) and short (from 500 to 1000 kilometers) range.